North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook and Back
San Angelo State Park
- 10/16/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.20 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1- Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur (S) > Lower Big Hill > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > North Slick Rock > River Bend Campground > Upper Ghost Camp > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Cougar Overlook 5.0 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > service road (W) > River Bend Trail (N) > Badlands > Service road (NE) > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 4.2 miles
Temps started 59, ended at 85. Sunny with steady 5-10mph SSW Breeze.
Easy hike along dry, easy to see trails. It has been a few months since I hiked the North Shore due to the July 4th flood. Trails are still closed (Shady Trail, North Scenic Loop and Lower Ghost Camp trails). The rest of the trails are still there and hike-able.
Monarch Butterflies are beginning to migrate South for the winter. I saw numerous single fliers as well as a few bunches mostly hanging around the pecan trees.
Biggest surprise was seeing a small herd of Axis Deer (photo attached) fairly close to the park entrance. I've occasionally observed their ancestors for a few years when I would see them while hiking Shady Trail. I was told the Axis Deer had escaped from a hunting ranch that is across the road from the park.
NOTES -
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade is available at nearby campsites.
Water, shade, and an info kiosk are available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Campground.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/30/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.50 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.3 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Horny Toad > Talley Valley > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.2 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Temps started at 60, ended at 83. Sunny with a slight 0-3mph SW breeze.
Easy hike along dew dampened to dry trails. There wasn't much going on but it was good to go out and stretch my legs listening to the birds sing (photo attached). Only a few deer were spotted, nothing really to report.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water and shade available at various campsites along Roadrunner Loop. Three areas have water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available on Roadrunner.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/23/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.70 Miles
Duration: N/A
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > Playground Trail > Bell's Point > Playground Trail (N) > Flintstone > 5 Point Junction 3.5 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Potts Creek (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 4.2 miles
Temp started at 79, ended at 88. Sunny, steady SW breeze at 10-15mph.
An east hike along dry and familiar trails. A few spots have vegetation growing but not enough to completely cover the trails - caution is still advised so you don't step on a park resident. Some of the desiduous trees are beginning to lose their leaves but he predominant mesquites are still very green as are most of the rest of the vegetation. A few flowers are still in bloom (photo attached) and there are still lots of cactus tunas available for consumption.
Monarch butterflies are due to arrive soon on their migration to Mexico. A few birds are beginning to migrate but not in great numebrs yet. LOTS of fawns and younger javelinas and there seem to be more Roadrunners and rabbits out as well.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Bell's Point.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 9/17/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.10 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.6 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek Trail > West Potts Creek Trail > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.7 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.8 miles
Temp started at 64, ended at 84. Sunny with a slight 0-5mph SSW breeze.
Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. The cooler weather brough out a few more birds and I saw this Road runner on Tasajilla Flats at the beginning of the hike (photo attached). Rather regal as he watched me and had no apprehension of me being relatively close to him. Deer as well as javelinas were spotted as was a "first in a few years" sighting of a Verdin. The Verdin was difficult to see but I snapped one photo showing his yellowish-green head and red epaulate - not worth keeping the photo but good enough for an ID. A few mountain bikers and hikers were out as well. Otherwise, it was just a pleasant although fairly long hike.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, infoi kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Big Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/10/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.40 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett park 3.2 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 4.2 miles
Temp started at 64, ended at 80. Sunny w/steady 10-15mph SW breeze.
Easy hike along dry and familiar trails. Not many deer were out but I saw three javelinas with one being especially watchful and tense (photo attached). Some birds were out including a LOggerhead Shrike. A few bee bushes are blooming again which is always pleasant. Purple Thistle and patches of sunflowers were also visible. It was simply a good hike.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground Parking Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.